Shemos 4:19 · unit 1 — in Midian

Parashas Shemos

The Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֤ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה֙ בְּמִדְיָ֔ן לֵ֖ךְ שֻׁ֣ב מִצְרָ֑יִם כִּי־מֵ֙תוּ֙ כׇּל־הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים הַֽמְבַקְשִׁ֖ים אֶת־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃

GOD said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all those who sought to kill you are dead.”

Chabad.org — 4:19

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to baraisa — Nedarim 65a (verified).

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text

ויאמר ה׳ אל משה במדין — תניא: המודר הנאה מחבירו אין מתירין לו אלא בפניו\ldots במדין נדרת לך והתר נדרך במדין.

English: “And Hashem said to Moshe in Midian” — it was taught: One who is forbidden by vow from benefit of his fellow may be released only in his presence\ldots “In Midian you vowed; go and have your vow released in Midian.”

On the daf / in context: Moshe’s earlier oath to Yisro required formal release before he could leave; the location “in Midian” is therefore essential.

Type of Learning

Custom

What Is Learned

Chazal derive that release from a vow must take place in the presence of the one to whom the vow was made.